Detonator mounting clip



June 18, 1957 F. H. SWAIM 2,796,024

DETONATOR MOUNTING CLIP Filed Feb. 16, 1955 INVENTOR Frank H Swm'm ATTORNEYJ nEroNA'ron MOUNTING CLIP Frank H. Swaim, Silver Spring, Md assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to explosive detonators for ordnance ammunition and more specifically to a clip means for use in counting and holding explosive detonators within the arming rotor of ordnance ammunition fuzes.

When handling ordnance items of an explosive nature special techniques must be employed to protect the handler and to insure subsequent safe and proper function of the ordnance item. The assembly of an explosive detonator in an item of ammunition has been and still is a dangerous operation. Protective measures must be taken. It is important also that the detonator be properly loaded in order to withstand the forces of setback and vibration to which the ammunition item will be subjected. A slight displacement of the detonator either laterally or longitudinally while its containing missile is in flight could cause the missile fuze to malfunction.

The method previously used to mount explosive detonators in the fuze rotor falls far short of that which is desired. The detonator was either cemented or crimped into place within the aperture provided in the rotor. Cementing has the disadvantage that it is time consuming and difficult to control. Spread of the cement to critical portions of the fuze is always a possible source of malfunction. If the rotor is crimped in place safety requirements necessitate performance of the operation behind a barrier. Unless close control of the crimping is made, deformation of the detonator and breaking of insulating parts frequently result. This method does not prevent motion of the detonator under vibration and hence, insulating washers and machined shoulders in the rotor are frequently necessary to contain the detonator properly. Breakage of the lead wires under excessive vibration is always a possibility.

One object of this invention is a new and novel clip for use in mounting explosive detonators in the arming rotor of fuzes.

Another object of the invention is a new and novel method of mounting detonators in the arming rotor of fuzes.

A further object of the invention is a safe and inexpensive clip for use in mounting explosive detonators in the arming rotor of fuzes.

A still further object of the invention is a quick, safe and inexpensive method of mounting and maintaining explosive detonators in the arming rotor of fuzes.

'Ihe specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from the following description and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the arming rotor of a fuze having the explosive detonator (shown in phantom) assembled therein by means of a clip designed in accordance with this invention, the clip being partly cut-away.

Figure 2 is the assembly shown in Fig. 1 rotated ninety degrees, the clip being partly cut-away, the detonator not shown.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the clip designed in accordance with this invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may be seen by an examination of Fig. 1 wherein numeral 1 indicates a generally cup shaped clip used to mount an explosive detonator 2 within the arming rotor or support 3 of an ordnance fuze, not shown. Clip 1, which is formed of spring steel or similar resilient material, comprises a perforation 4 centrally positioned in the bottom of said clip, seat 5 remaining, and two sets of barbs, there being four barbs in each set. Barbs 6 are in the upper plane and are flared inwardly and downwardly and barbs 7 are in the lower plane and are flared outwardly and upwardly. The clip is provided with two diametrically opposed deeply cut slots 8 in the wall of the clip to provide compressibility of the clip in a manner to be described hereinafter. Also these slots provide an opening for an initiator entering from the side of this type initiator is desired. A pair of outwardly depending flanges 9 are provided for the purpose of vertically positioning the clip in aperture 10 of rotor 3.

The process of loading" the detonator into the rotor involves only two major steps, one being to insert the detonator into the clip and the other to insert the clipdetonator combination into the aperture provided therefor in the fuze rotor. The two steps can be reversed although the first method suggested is preferred. The two sets of barbs effectively increase the inside and outside diameters of the clip so that the effective inside diameter is less than the diameter of the detonator and the effective outside diameter is greater than the diameter of the aperture into which the clip must be inserted. When the detonator is pushed into the clip the flanges 9 move outward somewhat, the slots 8 permitting the expansion of the clip, and the barbs 6 are sprung outwardly somewhat so that the angle of the barbs with respect to the clip walls is lessened. When the clip, now containing the detonator, is inserted into the rotor aperture the flanges 9 move inwardly as the clip is compressed, the result being that barbs 6 are sprung outwardly an additional amount, the pressure exerted by barbs 6 against the detonator walls being considerable. The detonator has been positioned vertically in contact with seat 5. Any force tending to remove the detonator from its seat and expel it from the clip will cause barbs 6 to bite or gauge into the detonator walls to prevent its expulsion. Barbs 7 are sprung inwardly to exert considerable pressure against the walls of the rotor aperture, the clip being positioned vertically within aperture 10 inasmuch as flanges 9 are in contact with rotor 3 adjacent aperture 10. Proper vertical positioning of the detonator within aperture 10 is important inasmuch as the design limits of the gap between detonator and booster charge must be rather accurate in order to obtain proper explosive propagation. The booster, not shown, is positioned directly below the detonator when the fuze rotor is in the armed position.

Any attempt or tendency to expel the clip-detonator combination from the rotor aperture will have the effect that barbs 7 will bite or gouge into the walls of aperture 10 to maintain the clip-detonator combination securely in place. This system resists longitudinal, transverse and rotational motion of the detonator with respect to the rotor.

It will be apparent that the embodiment shown is only exemplary and that various modifications can be made in construction and arrangement within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an ordnance missile, a detonator assembly for effectively withstanding the forces of setback and vibration, said detonator assembly comprising in combination: a support having an aperture; a clip in said aperture, said clip being formed of resilient material, said clip having a first set of barbs flared inwardly and downwardly, a detonator disposed completely in said clip, said first set of barbs gripping and immovably retaining said detonator from relative longitudinal movement in an upward direction and relative rotation when said detonator assembly is subject to said forces of setback and vibration, and said clip having a second set of barbs flared outwardly and upwardly and in contact with the walls of said aperture, said second set of barbs being gouged in said walls, said clip having an upper and lower edge and a slot extending from said upper edge to adjacent said lower edge, each of said set of said barbs being formed along the sides of said slot and horizontally extending integrally therefrom, said second set of barbs being so constructed and arranged with respect to said walls that said clip is relatively immovable therein in said upward direction and rotationally when said detonator assembly is subject to said forces of setback and vibration, the length of the aperture being greater than the distance from the top of said clip to said barbs flared outwardly.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said clip further comprises a flange extending transversely from said upper edge of said clip and in contact with said support at the upper edge of said aperture, said flange being so constructed and arranged with respect to said support that said clip is relatively immovable in a downward direction.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein sai clip is of general cup shape, the lower end of said clip having an aperture extending coaxially therethrough, and said lower end of said clip immovably retaining said detonator in said clip from relative motion in a downward direction.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,934 Kellogg Apr. 2, 1912 1,622,992 Callis et a1. Mar. 29, 1927 2,610,012 Mackey et a1. Sept. 9, 1952 2,643,839 Sislik Jug 30, 1953 2,644,398 Rabinow July 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,868 Germany Oct. 24, 1930 916,918 France Sept. 2, 1946 ii i 

